Trailer mounted roundabout amusement device

ABSTRACT

Portable amusement device, commonly known as &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Tilt-a-Whirl&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;, characterized by a trailer forming operative and other parts of the device, including hoisting apparatus employed during assembly and disassembly. It is designed to stow the various parts on the trailer in compact manner to facilitate transportation thereof. After disconnecting the trailer from a tractor-type truck its frame is lowered to the ground, forming a rigid central support about which the device may rotate. An entrance compartment to the assembled device is utilized to stow parts of same and, when optionally employed, a pivoted box adjacent the entrance, also employed as storage space, may be elevated to provide an advertizing or identification of the particular type of device or &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;ride&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;.

United States Patent 1 91 1 3,724,842 Wisdom Apr. 3, 1973 s41 TRAILER MOUNTED ROUNDABOUT 838,961 6/1960 Great Britain ..272 29 AMUSEMENT DEVICE [76] Inventor: Gerald F. Wisdom, 337 Delaware, Primary Exami erRiChard C. Pinkham Sterling, Colo. 80751 Assistant ExaminerArnold W. Kramer Filed Feb 8 1971 Attorney-Sheridan, Ross & Burton [21] App]. No.: 113,326 [57] ABSTRACT Portable amusement device, commonly known as (5 58 2 Tilt-a-Whirl, characterized by a trailer forming [58] Fieid 'g g 5 g 43 f operative and other parts of the device, including hoisting apparatus employed during assembly and disassembly. It is designed to stow the various parts on the trailer in compact manner to facilitate transporta- [56] References cued tion thereof. After disconnecting the trailer from a UNITED STATES PATENTS tractor-type truck its frame is lowered to the ground, forming a rigid central support about which the device gmtonlml. may rotate; An entrancecompartment to the assem 1400802 12]921 g i z a bled device is utilized to stow parts of same and, when 2 621 929 12/1952 iacksonii: 11111111272/44 ptinally l Pivmed adjacent the 2:847:2l6 8/1958 Courtneyw. ..272/36 "811cc, also p y as Storage Space, m y be 3,078,090 2/1963 Thomas 272 29 elevated to provide an advertizing or identification of 3,459,422 8/1969 Winton ..272/29 X the particular t e of device or ride.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 11/1960 Italy ..272/52 wli ie; 36

7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 3 I975 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVE N TOR GERALD F. WISDOM WXZWM ATTORNEYS TRAILER MOUNTED ROUNDABOUT AMUSEMENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION remain at a locus only for several days or less and form a part of the entertainment in connection with a short celebration of a civic activity, are well known. These usually contain mechanized devices, such as carousels and other rides, which are particularly attractive to children. In some cases they are full scale devices of their counterparts as employed in permanent amusement parks and in others they may be scaled down versions so that they are more readily subject to assembly, disassembly and transportation by trucks or trailers. As will be apparent, the labor costs of assembly and disassembly of the equipment may be considerable, which must be considered in the economics of a particular operation and particularly when the stay at a locus is relatively short and the fixed costs may be a large proportion of the gross revenue received.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The trailer comprises an elongated frame, supported at its rear end by wheels and having a towing hitch or fifth" wheel at its front end adapted to be detachably connected to a tractor type truck, this being of generallyconventional design. The front end of the senger carrying arms, the outer ends of which roll along a circular track which undulates in the vertical y direction. The track is formed in sections of a size which may be stowed at the sides of the trailer frame beneath its central portion and a fixed track section is disposed across the central portion. Hoisting apparatus is provided to stow the arms in stacked relation above the central portion and an entrance compartment adjacent the rear end of the trailer provides a stowage space for other parts of the apparatus. A drive mechanism for rotating the arms remains affixed to the trailer. I

In accordance with the foregoing, the principal object of the invention is to provide a combined trailer and amusement device in which the trailer serves the multiple purpose of providing part of the operative elements of the device, contains means for facilitating assembly and disassembly thereof, and is constructed to transport the disassembled device in compact space saving manner.

Another object, consonant with the foregoing, is to provide the trailer with a rigid central support about which platforms may rotate about a sectional track affixed to and braced to the trailer, thus utilizing its mass to resist unbalanced forces.

Another object is to provide the trailer with a fixed track section.

Another object is to provide the trailer with an entrance compartment which serves as stowage space for parts of the disassembled apparatus.

A further object is to provide the trailer with lifting apparatus for sequentially lifting parts of the apparatus and stowing same in vertical stacked relationship.

Still further objects, advantages and salient features will become more apparent from the detailed description to follow, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawing to now be briefly described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective of the subject of the invention, as assembled, a portion being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, as viewed in the direction of arrow 2, FIG. 1, during partial assembly or disassembly; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan during assembly or disassembly, certain repetitious portions being omitted; FIG. 4 is a section through a detail in the locus of arrow 4, FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section take on line 55, FIG.

FIG. 6 is a broken away detail of hoisting apparatus; FIG; 7 is a section taken on line 7-7, FIG. 3; I FIG. 8 is a detail in the locus of arrow 8, FIG. 1, and FIG. 9 is a radial section through the cat-walk.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS General Description Referring now to the drawing, and first to FIGS. 1 to 3, trailer 10 comprises a pair of parallel frame members 12, 12a, supported at its read end by wheels 14. The front end, centrally between the frame members, is provided with a so-called fifth wheel (not shown) adapted to be detachably connected to a universally mounted supporting and towing platform disposed adjacent the rear end of a tractor truck, the construction so far described being conventional.

An entrance compartment 16 is disposed above the wheels which may be provided with removable steps 18 and another stowage compartment or box 20, if employed, is pivotally connected to the upper rear portion of compartment 16 for movement between the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Compartment 20 may be provided with suitable advertising and, when elevated, provides access to entrance compartment 16.

As best shown in FIGS. 1,3 and 9, supports 25 are disposed at angularly spaced points around track 24 to which are removably affixed cat-walk sections 26, fence sections 27, hand rails 28 and light supporting posts 29. The outer surface of the fence is preferably covered by a suitable covering 30 to enhance appearance, the fence and covering also preventing unauthorized entry beneath the apparatus where bodily injury might occur.

Removable steps 32 are provided at diametrically disposed loci of the track which provide exits from the cat-walk.

' ROTATABLE PLATFORM The rotatable annular platform disposed above the track comprises a plurality of angularly spaced platforms 34, each rigidly secured to an arm 36, and intermediate platforms 38 filling the spaces between platforms 34. Each arm 36 is formed as an A-frame, the apex of which is removably secured to a ball joint 40 (FIG. 4) which is universally movable in a rotatable central support 42, journaled on a shaft 44 affixed to the central portion of the front end of the trailer frame.

The outer end of each A-frarne arm 36 is closed by a member (not shown) forming the base of the triangle, which adds rigidity to the A-frame. The outer end of each arm is provided with angularly spaced wheels 46 which roll along the top of track 24. Each passenger carrying tub 48 is secured to a platform 34 for rotation on a track 49. Its connection is removable so that the tubs may be stowed independently from their supporting platforms. As is conventional, each tub is provided with angularly spaced wheels (not shown) which roll around track 49. As will be apparent, each ball joint 40 permits its attached arm to rotate about a radial axis and also to rise and fall as the wheels at its outer end conform to the undulating peripheral supporting track 24. Platforms 34, 38 are secured together by outer and inner peripheral cables 50 (FIG. 7) which permit the platforms to move relatively as they rotate around the undulating track. These may be driven in any conventional manner, which for simplicity, is illustrated as'a power driven sheave 52 which frictionally engages arcuate tubes 54 carried by the peripheries of the various platforms.

ASSEMBLY OR DISASSEMBLY Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, main frame l2,l2a is provided with three sockets 56, each of which removably receives an upstanding post 58 having a pulley 60 around which is trained a cable 62 operated by a hydraulic actuator 64 affixed to themain frame. As shown in FIG. 3 it will be assumed that disassembly is occurring, and the various platforms are incrementally rotated in the clockwise direction to a position above the trailer frame. As shown at the left of FIG. 3, intermediate platforms 38 are disposed between platforms 34. These are first removed and placed upon the top of an adjacent platform 34 as shown by 38a. The stacked tube supporting platform and intermediate platform assembly is then moved to a position above the trailer frame after which it is disconnected fromthe ball joint at its inner end. Hooks 66 on each cable 62 are then affixed to the assembly at its three corners and the assembly is raised sufficiently to permit the next assembly to be rotated beneath the raised assembly. The raised assembly is then lowered on top of the assembly beneath same and the hooks are attached to the lower assembly which, together with the assembly disposed thereon is now raised in like manner. This continues until all assemblies have been stacked on each other. As will be apparent, assembly of the apparatus occurs in reverse manner. As will also be apparent, the height of each lift need be only slightly in excess of the thickness of an assembly.

FIG. illustrates the stacking just referred to. As will be apparent, arms 36 provide spaces 68 therebetween, catwalk sections 26, whichwere removed prior to the disassembly just described, are disposed within these spaces as disassembly proceeds.

When the assemblies are all stacked, the sections of the peripheral track are disassembled and placed in the spaces below and at each side of main frames 12, 12a, as indicated by dotted lines, FIG. 5. Cat-walk supports 25. and removable parts associated therewith may be stowed in compartment 16 prior to the disassembly described and when this is filled compartment may be lowered to the position of FIG. 2 and other parts disposed therein. Depending upon the capacity of the compartments the tubs may be stowed therein or transported by the tractor truck ahead of the hitch, if space permits, or be transported by another truck or trailer. FIGS. 1 and 8 illustrate one mode of raising and lowering compartment 20 by a pair of hydraulic rams 70 each pivotally connected at one end of compartment 16 and at its other end to an arm 72 affixed to compartment 20. When in raised position, as shown in FIG. 1, compartment 20 is preferably retained thereat by a pair of removable tie rods or struts 74, thereby obviating unauthorized lowering by inadvertent operation of rams 70.

In the operation of apparatus of the type described,

each tub 48 may contain, in any combination, none to several riders seated adjacent each other on one side of the tub diameter, thus creating considerable unbalanced rotational forces about the tub axis. This unbalanced force and the downward moment of force as 'the tubs move along the undulations causes the tubs to rotate or oscillate in somewhat erratic fashion, as is well known. Also, the center of mass of a tub moves to varying positions radially of its supporting arm, producing radial forces on the central pivot for the tub supporting arms. It thus becomes apparent that the varying unbalanced forcesdictate on extremely rigid central support and also rigid support for the track so that it does not distort sufficiently to destroy alignment with the wheels which roll along same. The trailer frame, when disconnected from the tractor truck and lowered onto the ground, provides an extremely rigid support, by reason of its mass, for resisting the various unbalanced forces. This mass is thus utilized by forming the central pivot on the frame of the trailer. Additionally, a plurality of removable bracing rods 76 (FIG. 3) are employed which rigidly tie the track sections to the trailer frame so that any forces which tend to distort the track sections from its desired circular configuration are transferred to the mass of the trailer. It thus becomes apparent that the trailer not only provides means for transporting the disassembled apparatus but also forms an important part in its operation.

Since orderly and generally one-way ingress and egress of the riders is desired between rides, entrance l8 and exit steps 32 are normally provided. Box 20, however, which serves only as an elevated sign during operation, may be omitted, if desired, if overall trailer length becomes a criterion or if the user does not desire same, in which event portions of the apparatus which.

are stowable therein may be transported by another vehicle.

The space between the drop-center outrigger track section supports and beneath the trailer frame, may be employed for stowing some of the parts of the apparatus and also provides. a convenient space for containing hydraulic cylinders or actuators 64. In one embodiment, one actuator 64 is provided for the single post 58 adjacent the front end of the trailer and another actuator is provided for the pair of posts disposed intermediate its ends, its ram being connected to both of the cables trained about such pair of posts. This insures uniform lifting motion to the outer end of the tub carrying arm assemblies and independent of the lifting motion at its inner end.

While the invention has been particularly described in connection with a circular undulating track and rotatable tubs carried by arms which twist about radial axes as they follow the track, it will be apparent that other types of circular tracks may be employed within the purview of the invention. For example, the upper surface of the track may be planar and the entire upper platform may be flat and non-undulating which may carry other types of seating, such as employed on carousel platforms, this type of ride being particularly popular with those of tender years whose appetites for thrills have not been fully developed. Also, seats may be omitted and a vertical fence or grating may be affixed to and surround the platform against which standing riders are maintained by centrifugal force.

Further modifications will now be apparent which are contemplated within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement apparatus of the type having a generally horizontal circular track with angularly spaced curved vertical undulations therein, a plurality of angularly spaced arms extending radially outward from the center of the track, the arms being disconnectedly mounted at their inner ends by means for permitting universal movement thereof on rotatable means and having angularly spaced track engaging wheels at their outer ends, a flat car carrier platform affixed to each arm with each arm adapted to be driven around the track, other platforms movable relative to the car carrier platforms and filling the spaces therebetween, whereby all of the platforms provide a circular surface which continuously warps in the vertical plane as they rotate, means to rotate the circular surface, each car carrier platform carrying a car rotatable thereon about an axis perpendicular thereto, whereby each car may also rotate about its axis while bodily rotating around the track, the track being constructed of arcuate sections removably connected together and said platforms also being removably connected together, the 'cars being removable from their respective platforms, the improvements, in combination, comprising:

a. an elongated tractor-type trailer having a frame and supporting wheels near its rear end and a hitch near its forward end adapted to be supported by and towed by a tractor-type truck,

b. the major portion of said track sections adapted to be assembled around the front end of the trailer with the upper peak of one of said undulations formed by a fixed track section disposed above the trailer frame at an intermediate portion thereof,

c. each arm and its attached platform adapted to be rotated onto said fixed track above said intermediate portion,

d. elevator apparatus means carried by said intermediate portion for lifting a first arm and its attached platform when said arm is disconnected from the universal inner end means vertically a sufficient distance to permit the next and second angularly spaced like arm to be rotated therebeneath, said elevator apparatus means thence being connectible to said second arm after lowering the first arm onto the second arm, the two arms thence being bodily liftable when said second arm is disconnected from the universal inner end means until a third like arm may be rotated beneath the second, such rotating, disconnection and lifting continuing until all arms are stacked vertically above said intermediate portion.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a first box-like entrance compartment disposed adjacent the rear end of the trailer into which other parts of the apparatus may be stowed during transportation of the apparatus.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim2 including a second box-like compartment hingedly connected to the upper rear end of the first compartment and adapted to be moved from a lowered position in which it forms a rearward continuation of the first compartment to a position thereabove, said second compartment also adapted to contain other parts of the apparatus when in its lowered position.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said elevator apparatus means comprises a removable vertical post adjacent the front end of the trailer frame, a pair of laterally spaced like removable vertical posts disposed above the intermediate portion of the frame, and lifting cables trained about said posts adapted to be detachably connected to an arm at triangularly spaced points thereon.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion of said frame is provided with storage means therebeneath at the opposite sides thereof for supporting said track sections when disassembled.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for permitting universal movement comprises a member joumaled on the front end of the trailer frame substantially centrally between its sides with the inner ends of the arms having balls socketed therein, whereby the weight of the trailer forms a rigid support to resist unbalanced forces when the apparatus is in operation.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including tie members extending between the trailer frame and the arcuate track sections for preventing the latter from distorting and thus maintaining said track engaging wheels in alignment along the track sections. 

1. An amusement apparatus of the type having a generally horizontal circular track with angularly spaced curved vertical undulations therein, a plurality of angularly spaced arms extending radially outward from the center of the track, the arms being disconnectedly mounted at their inner ends by means for permitting universal movement thereof on rotatable means and having angularly spaced track engaging wheels at their outer ends, a flat car carrier platform affixed to each arm with each arm adapted to be driven around the track, other platforms movable relative to the car carrier platforms and filling the spaces therebetween, whereby all of the platforms provide a circular surface which continuously warps in the vertical plane as they rotate, means to rotate the circular surface, each car carrier platform carryinG a car rotatable thereon about an axis perpendicular thereto, whereby each car may also rotate about its axis while bodily rotating around the track, the track being constructed of arcuate sections removably connected together and said platforms also being removably connected together, the cars being removable from their respective platforms, the improvements, in combination, comprising: a. an elongated tractor-type trailer having a frame and supporting wheels near its rear end and a hitch near its forward end adapted to be supported by and towed by a tractortype truck, b. the major portion of said track sections adapted to be assembled around the front end of the trailer with the upper peak of one of said undulations formed by a fixed track section disposed above the trailer frame at an intermediate portion thereof, c. each arm and its attached platform adapted to be rotated onto said fixed track above said intermediate portion, d. elevator apparatus means carried by said intermediate portion for lifting a first arm and its attached platform when said arm is disconnected from the universal inner end means vertically a sufficient distance to permit the next and second angularly spaced like arm to be rotated therebeneath, said elevator apparatus means thence being connectible to said second arm after lowering the first arm onto the second arm, the two arms thence being bodily liftable when said second arm is disconnected from the universal inner end means until a third like arm may be rotated beneath the second, such rotating, disconnection and lifting continuing until all arms are stacked vertically above said intermediate portion.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including a first box-like entrance compartment disposed adjacent the rear end of the trailer into which other parts of the apparatus may be stowed during transportation of the apparatus.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including a second box-like compartment hingedly connected to the upper rear end of the first compartment and adapted to be moved from a lowered position in which it forms a rearward continuation of the first compartment to a position thereabove, said second compartment also adapted to contain other parts of the apparatus when in its lowered position.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said elevator apparatus means comprises a removable vertical post adjacent the front end of the trailer frame, a pair of laterally spaced like removable vertical posts disposed above the intermediate portion of the frame, and lifting cables trained about said posts adapted to be detachably connected to an arm at triangularly spaced points thereon.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the intermediate portion of said frame is provided with storage means therebeneath at the opposite sides thereof for supporting said track sections when disassembled.
 6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for permitting universal movement comprises a member journaled on the front end of the trailer frame substantially centrally between its sides with the inner ends of the arms having balls socketed therein, whereby the weight of the trailer forms a rigid support to resist unbalanced forces when the apparatus is in operation.
 7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 including tie members extending between the trailer frame and the arcuate track sections for preventing the latter from distorting and thus maintaining said track engaging wheels in alignment along the track sections. 